WIREDGOV

Sharp rise in supply of new homes.

The number of affordable homes delivered by the end of December 2015 rose by 19 per cent on the previous year, officials figures confirmed today.

Over the same period, the government’s 30,000 affordable homes target was surpassed, delivering 31,034 homes including almost 21,000 for social rent, of which almost 5,500 were council homes.

The number of private sector homes started in the year to end September 2015 jumped to more than 13,300, a rise of 10 per cent on the previous year.

Across all house types, over 16,000 new homes were completed in the year to September 2015, a four per cent rise on the previous year.

The homes completed in Scotland in the year ending September 2015 equates to a rate of 30 homes per 10,000 people in Scotland compared to 25 in England, 21 in Wales, and 28 in Northern Ireland.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said:

“As these positive figures illustrate, our increased investment in house building has helped stimulate a welcome rise in completions across all types of homes.

“This is a team effort; we will continue to work with all sectors to promote the building of new homes and support jobs in the construction industry.

“We have a strong record on housing, having exceeded our target of delivering 30,000 affordable homes in this Parliamentary term.

“Over the next five years we have committed to delivering at least 50,000 affordable homes, which represents a 67 per cent increase on our current target, backed up with investment of more than £3 billion.”

Notes To Editors

The official statistics are available at: www.gov.scot/stats/bulletins/01206

The statistics cover the following periods:

New build housing starts and completions by sector (up to end September 2015, with more up-to-date social sector information available up to end December 2015)

The Affordable Housing Supply Programme (up to end December 2015)

Local authority house sales including Right to Buy (up to end September 2015)